Disclaimer: If you look at me under the right light, then close your eyes and imagine the author of Fairy Tail, I'm still not Hiro Mashima, so I don't technically own anything. Oh we'll, he's awesome!

*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*

OMG OMG OMG! People like my story. Wah! I'M SO HAPPY THAT I MIGHT EXPLODE! It wasn't even a single day, and already 12 reviews 17 favourites and 17 follows... Thank you so much!

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

Anyway... I am so so so so so so happy! Whenever I get a review, a follow or a favourite, I want to dance. Whenever the number goes up by even just one digit I just want to cry with happiness (yeah I'm sad, but who cares! At least I'm enjoying myself (^ω^)!)...

Btw, as you can see I just found a bank of smilies, and I'm so hyper that I just can't stop using them! (((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o))) - Favourite by far!

Oh yeah, new chapter and all that chapterness... Hope it stays good! R&R (still got no clue on what it means...). Zeref may seem a little OOC, but this is what I always thought he should be. Review Please!

~Nom Nom :3

PS: Please check my other Fairy Tail Fanfics 'Forgotten Memories' and 'Never Meant to Be' (sad Oneshot), and even my Beelzebub one, 'Heat' (rated M so be warned)! You don't have to, just saying, you may like it...

Second:

Dark Arts

The world fell away around Zeref and Lucy. They were consumed by a black mist, and it clouded them from sight. Everything was black, everything quiet apart from the breathing from the pair. Then, as quick as it formed, the black mist left. The world reformed around them, with trees, mountains and a stream shimmering into existence.

They were at a camp. There was a animal skin tent with a single bed inside, with the entrance facing a roaring flame. There were fallen logs at acted like benches, and pots and pans scattered about. There were cloaks, all similar to the one he was wearing, scattered around the came. It made Lucy think of Gray, of his stripping habit... Then the belt she left to cover him... Then the incident of her killing the people...

"Sit." He gestured to her, pointing at the log opposite him. She did so warily, now coming to terms with her actions. She was angry, hurt, betrayed, but her actions were immature. She took the help of Zeref - the Zeref - and left her guild behind. Even though they disowned her, she shouldn't of took his hand. He was Zeref, the worlds most evil wizard to come into existence! She joined him! She needed to return...

"Z-Zeref-dono..." She started quietly, trying her best to be polite and honourable to him. He could probably end her life with just a wave of his hand, so being polite wouldn't be bad. Unfortunately, it backfired, and he looked at her slightly annoyed and somewhat amused.

"Zeref is fine." He said with a smile. This girl was amusing. First she was hotheaded and completely cut herself away from her ex-guild, but now she was all shy and polite, and very much afraid. He needed that to disappear if 'it' would work.

"W-Well Zeref...-kun..." She tried her hardest, but she needed to attach something to his name. She was always taut by her heiress background to be polite, and that was a habit she could never shake. "Can y-you return me?" She was trying her best to be casual, but it came out ad a plea to him.

He snickered inwardly. She was so amusing. He was thankful that the one that actually was compatible with him was someone so interesting. Feinting innocence, he raised an eyebrow. "Return you?" He asked, trying not to smirk. "Where to?" He knew exactly where to, but he just wanted to mess with her.

"To F-Fairy T-T-Tail." She stuttered. Yeah, she wanted back, but he needed to implement his plan. She was the first compatible person in decades, so he needed to do this just right.

"Sorry, I can't. My magic's ran dry." That was a total lie. Even though he'd casted lots of spells on the past few hours, he still had enough power to transport every member of Fairy Tail here individually, and then summon a demon population that would rival Mangolia. Yet, he needed to make it so she accepted it, not force it upon her, of else all would be lost.

"How long?" She asked, her mind racing. Ideas flooded it, one looking both very tempting but drastic, so she filed it under 'desperate measures'. "How long until you can transport us there and, if needed, back here?" Her voice was now strong, her stuttering and quietness leaving it.

How long? This was the delicate bit. If it was too long, she'd suspect him lying, and if it wasn't long enough, she'd not suggest it herself, just hold out and wait that long. "Two weeks, give or take a few days." He decided. He hoped that it was alright...

Two weeks... What kind of magic did that cost? To need to rest for that long before they could use it, it must be very taxing... The idea in the 'desperate measures' folder began to look very appetising, but she couldn't do that... Could she? It wasn't something anyone should do, yet people still did it. And if she waited two weeks, it might be too long.

"Hey Zeref-kun." She asked, making Zeref tense. This was it, she was going to either ask or point something out, a hole in his plan. What gave him away? Was it the telepathy connection? The power he shared with her? Or was it-

"How long did it take for you to learn it?"

The question surprised him. Things were progressing, so he thought about it. If he really really pushed, it would take about a week, at the very least. "About 10 days, why?" He was getting anxious now. What was she going to ask. Will she ask it?

"Can... Can you teach me it?" She said in a quiet voice. She wanted to learn it, because it'd be useful in the future. People were against her, and she couldn't always rely on Zeref to come save her... Wait, why was she thinking that? This was Zeref! He was evil! He used Dark Arts, forbidden magics that she should just avoid... But she couldn't. She had used that type of magic too... And even though it was painful to admit it, he was the only one that helped her, the only one she could remotely trust.

He nodded with a straight face, while inside he was cheering. The plan had worked! When he first felt yet another plea of help, he indulged it, l,e he normally did, expecting the power, once released, would destroy her, like it did to so many others before her. But, this time, the power worked. She casted the Dark Arts without destroying herself, and he was thrilled. He finally found her! Yet, he couldn't be too hasty. He needed to make sure that bonds were broken, and so she asked him to save her. So he weaved his magic across her guild, Fairy Tail. He made it so that the Master would remove her mark without being able to explain himself, that her friends wouldn't be able to move, and so that in her time of need she'd call to him and he'd answer. There were times where he thought that she wouldn't accept him, like the few seconds before she took his hand, but she did. And now, she asked him to learn the Dark Arts. That was the only condition on learning it, knowing what it was and accepting it completely, or else it would consume and destroy them.

"Are you sure?" He asked, trying to conceal his happiness. "This is dark magic, and it will corrupt your magic. You probably won't be able to summon Celestial Spirits as they are anymore..."

She was hesitant. He mind was working overtime. Not be able to summon her Spirits anymore? Loke, Aquarius, even Taurus... They wouldn't be able to see each other again? But, they were her friends! She couldn't leave them. She was about to voice out a rejection, but something stopped her in her tracks. So was Fairy Tail, yet they betrayed her. They were friends, but they abandoned her.

"As they are?" She asked curiously, noticing the phrasing of the words. He appeared to be hesitant, almost not wanting to share the information, but sighed in defeat.

"It corrupts your magic. It taints it in darkness, but doesn't destroy it. Your Celestial Spirits would be tainted too, making them more powerful, but it will change them, but only with their permission. It will change you." He looked at her. "Are you alright with that?"

No, she wasn't. Her spirits would all follow her, and it would change them. Them might not like it, but they had a choice. But she needed to be strong, to be able to handle herself without her spirits, so what happened would never happen again.

"Yes." She said, and he smiled. It made her breath catch in her throat and heat rise to her cheeks. The smile was so sincere, so pure, and it made her heart beat faster. She turned her head away from him and his her face. She felt that her decision was right for her, and Zeref was not all people thought he was...

The two of them disappeared in a black mist. Makarov's face fell, his heart breaking. Lucy... She just took his hand, Zeref's hand, in front of him. Why? Was it to hurt him? He didn't even get a chance to explain his actions. She must think that Fairy Tail abandoned her, and the only person willing to help was Zeref, so naturally she accepted it. Yet the Rune Knights all saw it. Zeref, the evil Mage thought to be in a deep slumber, save someone with the exact same magic as his. What they would see was a comrade helping a comrade. Lucy, even though she was innocent, had now just sealed her fate in guilty.

"Master..." Erza whispered finally. They went back to the inn where Team Natsu was staying in silence. They didn't talk once, just dwelled in their own thoughts. "Master." She repeated, louder and firmer this time.

"Yes?" He asked, his throat sore. He wanted to cry, he wanted to deny what he just saw, but he couldn't. His child Lucy, with the world's enemy Zeref... Soon she will become the world's enemy, if she wasn't already.

"Why... Why did you..." She struggled to find her voice, tears falling from her right eye. She felt like it was her fault. They all did in a way, with Gray and his stripping habit making Lucy leave her keys, Natsu because he didn't notice his 'sister' was gone, Lisanna for feeling like she pushed Lucy out, and Master for removing her mark. But herself, it was her fault. She was the one who so desperately wanted to do the mission to get the Requip Stone. It was she who knocked out Gray and Natsu, making them stay the night, and it was her who didn't check on her when she woke up. The others may think it was their fault, but she knew it was her fault.

She cleared her throat and started again. "Master, why did you remove the Fairy Tail mark?" It was a question on everyone's mind. It appeared to be the thing that pushed Lucy off the edge, making her completely hate them. They didn't help, because they trusted in their Master to fix the mess, but he didn't. And now, Lucy was gone.

"I removed it because of her trial." He stated. This was hard for him, because the only plan that he had was this, and it had completely fell apart. And her eyes, the betrayed look she gave them still haunted him. "I removed it because of the fact she killed someone."

"That was an accident!" Natsu angrily interrupted. He was fuming, the anger he was building up towards the Master finally erupting. "Lucy would never kill anyone, no matter what!"

The firm belief Natsu had for Lucy was admirable, but useless. He knew of thing they didn't. Her past, pieces that she never wished to be heard by the guild, but they needed to hear. They needed to know that even though she was Lucy, their nakama, the loving Celestial Mage, she was possible of doing this.

"When Lucy was 16, she was attacked." Makarov began. "It was by her bodyguard at the time, someone who was infatuated with her. She was alone with him because she trusted him, but that was wrongly placed trust." He sighed, remembering the tears Lucy was crying when she told him this. "It was late one night when she was bathing, and he made his move. He entered the bathroom and forced himself upon her with a knife. She refused, and he got angry and waved the knife about, and it caught her arm. She retaliated and killed him, with his own knife."

Silence followed these words. He had left out a crucial point, but hoped that they didn't need to know, only if they didn't say-

"Well, it was self defence, so it was ok." Gray said quietly, earning him an approving nod from Natsu, who was sitting back by the window, with Lisanna's head on his lap.

"It would've been, but it wasn't. You see, self defence would be a stab or a slash. What she did to him was torture. There was broken bones, missing fingers and toes that were scattered around the room, she even removed one of his eyeballs and decapitated him..." He shuddered. "All while he was still alive."

They all stared at him, horrified. They felt sick, even the unmoveable Erza looked slightly sick. This was a side to Lucy that they never knew existed. The loveable, blonde, airhead woman who abused her sex appeal, torturing someone to death. Yet that didn't explain everything. Rather, it didn't explain anything. It just gave more questions.

"So you removed her guild mark on a might?" Erza hissed, barely controlling her rage. Natsu was grinding his teeth while Gray was shaking, even Lisanna was glaring a hole in the wall. They all knew that past mistakes were bad, but to never use them as 'might' or 'could be'. Thankfully, Makarov shook his head.

"No, the reason was the fact that she had killed people then and there, even if it wasn't intentional. If she still had our mark, the Magic Council would've used it to blame the guild, and Lucy would've hated herself for that." He was telling the truth. The Magic Council would do anything to blame something on Fairy Tail, anything they could. This would just be serving it to them on a golden platter.

Erza sensed that he wasn't saying something. She wouldn't normally care, but her bad mood made it so she couldn't let it slide. "And?" She demanded, earning a look from Master, which she ignored.

"And the fact that they decided on her execution. That would've been reversible, if a well standing guild supported them. It would've just changed to imprisonment."

"What's with the past tense?" Lisanna said abruptly. Erza, Natsu and Gray didn't pick up on it, but now that they thought about it, I was all 'would've' and not 'will'.

"Well, that's what should've happened, and would've before Zeref came." Just saying the name left a bad taste in his mouth. "Him coming to her and helping her escape is practically rubbing it in the Council's face, and giving them a connection to use. However, if she refused the hand, we would've been able to, albeit with a lot of fighting, got her free of all charges."

The air fell heavy. Everyone was thinking about the look she gave them. Hurt and looking for help, but when none came, it was betrayal. Those eyes made them shudder. The fact that they were so close to helping her and saving her, only to loose her utterly was gut wrenching. Now Zeref had his claws in her, for god knows what, and it was likely that she wouldn't ever return, and if she did, she wouldn't be the Lucy they knew...

After their talk, training began. It was mid-morning, and Zeref led either way around the island. It was a strange island, because it was shaped like a giant tree, with thick tree trunks wrapping around one another, supporting a second island up above. One side of the island had rocks that was jutting out, and strange bright yellow plants among the usual green plants.

Zeref led them to a cliff next to he ocean, and Lucy could see that there were no islands on the calm blue sea. It was like they were alone in the middle nowhere, with nowhere to go.

Zeref pointed to a small boulder that was on the very edge of the cliff, which looked extremely unsafe to Lucy. "Sit on that with your legs crossed."

Lucy was somewhat cynical of him. He said not to question his methods, but she was completely bemused by him. Strangely, she didn't feel afraid to be around him. He wasn't bad, she thought that people had just misjudged him. Sighing reluctantly, she did what he said. Sitting on the edge terrified Lucy, but she did so. The boulder wasn't stable, and the slightest movement made it rock.

"Ok, now slowly move." Zeref said, making Lucy stare at him. He had floated in front of her, above the waves, and smiled at her. He looked like he was enjoying himself.

"What? Are you crazy?" She shouted, making him smile. He was enjoying this, her reactions were fresh and new, different from the 'Yes Zeref-sama' from loyalists, or the screaming from scared people. She just said what was on her mind, even to him and she didn't care, and he liked it.

"This is an important lesson. Doing this will help you to stop fearing death."

"Well anyone would fear death if you push them off a cliff..." She grumbled at him, but still did as he said. It was slowly and slightly awkward at first, but she gradually improved up to the point here it was moving vigorously. "Hey, this is actually amusing!"

"Stop." He commanded, and she did so instantly, looking relieved but slightly sad. "Now jump off."

She couldn't help but laugh at his ridiculous just told her to jump off the cliff, like it was her training. She thought he was messing with her, until she saw his face. "Oh you're serious..."

"Don't worry, this is part of your training. Dark Arts is something humans are only capable of in threat of death, and learning it defies all laws of magic. That's why it's forbidden, because it's supposed to be impossible..."

She nodded, learning one thing from that. To master Dark Arts, she'd have to go through things like this a lot... She mentally shook herself. She didn't want to master Dark Arts! It was evil! She only wanted to go home. Yet, the thought of her being powerful, even more so than Erza, Gray, Natsu and even Master made her feel all tingly inside. It sounded quite fun, actually...

She jumped. It shocked Zeref, because he expected her to hesitate more, even downright refuse. But, yet again, she surprised him. She really was amusing to him, and he looked forward to see how powerful she would get...

As she fell, she felt the black thing inside her. The forbidden, horrid magic didn't feel unnatural this time. It felt perfectly natural, almost like this is what she had waited her entire life to feel this power. It was like a rush on drugs (something she knew well from her heiress days), but ten times better without any drawbacks. She wanted - no, she needed to use this power. So she did.

The release of this power was different that the last time. This time, she felt like she could control it, make it only her this time. She didn't care that last time she used the power people died. She just felt exhilarated. She forced it to combine with her own magic, and she felt an extreme magic boost. Yet, the fall was over, and the water reached out for her...

But it didn't get her. A soft but strong arm slowly wrapped around her waist and she stopped falling. It wasn't a gentle stop, but a vigorous, whiplash-gaining stop. But it was better than getting soaked and shredded by the ocean and cliff, so she viewed it as a bonus. Another bonus was the fact that Zeref held her tightly against him as he pulled her in back to the cliff with his flying magic.

When they reached the ground again, they collapsed onto it, both tired for two different reasons. Lucy from the fusion of the darkness with her magic, and Zeref from the unusually taxing flight. He could sense Lucy was different, but he couldn't believe it.

"What did... You do?" He asked her in between panting.

"What do you mean?"

He breathed more slowly, regaining his breath. "What you just did with your magic. You fused it with the Dark Arts!"

She looked confused. "Isn't that what you wanted me to do?" She asked racking her memory. He didn't say it, but she just assumed that it was what she needed to do.

"No, it wasn't." He looked at her with both amazement and disappointment. "What you did would take years for even an experienced wizard to do. Doing it straight out like that normally killed the person."

"Did you do it like that?"

The question confused him. Why did she want to know that? He didn't need to answer, but she wanted to know, and he felt pressured by her big brown eyes to tell her. "Yes." He reluctantly admitted. He was probably the only other Mage in history who survived it by doing that. She was about to become as powerful as him. She had already began, but he'd keep that a secret, for now.

Standing up, he dusted himself off. "Now, seeing as you've done that, it looks like we'll be able to see this Fairy Tail of yours soon."

She smiled. "Yeah. Let's do this! I feel so powerful!" She felt amazing still. Her body itself felt more powerful, her muscles stronger, her eyes sharper. It was like she had just gotten a new body.

"But be warned." He cautioned her. She was different from when he first found her already. She was more confident, more powerful... More beautiful... "You haven't mastered it yet. It takes years to do so without it destroying you. You seem to have the same type of learning rate as I did, but it still took me about six years. Do you want to fully control it, or just let it destroy you?"

"Yes, teach me." She didn't even hesitate. She knew the answer. She wanted power, she wanted to be stronger to destroy Fairy Tail. It surprised her how much she changed within a few hours. The fluffy and airhead Lucy was gone, and she was more powerful. And, for some reason, she wanted to stay with Zeref for a little longer.

"Then lets go visit a guild!"

The train ride back to the guild was in complete silence. Gray hadn't stripped, he just stared out the window. Erza did the same, her eyes glazed over. Natsu was sick on the floor, as usual, but he didn't make a sound this time. Lisanna just stared at him. And Makarov... He just attempted to sleep, with no avail. He was woken up through the night to go to the 'Breech', so he barely got any sleep.

Lucy. All their thoughts lingered on the blonde girl. Her innocence, her determination for jobs, her smiles. How she treated her Celestial Spirits like friends rather than objects. How she always prepared their favourite foods for whenever they came over. How she always had extra clothes for Gray. How she was the only girl who had girl talk with Erza. How she cleaned Natsu's house. Everything she did was from love. Yet, they couldn't save her.

Happy. Natsu dreaded talking to him when they returned. How would he explain it to his best friend? He loved Lucy. Not only him, but the entire guild did. How would they explain it to the rest of the guild? They all loved Lucy. Even though she just joined about a year ago, she was already a figurehead in the guild, even owning her own figurine. Master would break the news, but people will get very upset...

The train slowed to a stop, and the Fairy Tail members disembarked. Rune Knights would be at their guild later, after checking her apartment, to see if she came back, but Makarov hoped she wouldn't. She wouldn't be able to escape otherwise.

The crowds parted and let the group through. All of the members present (excluding Lisanna) were emitting a killing aura. They all were angry at themselves, but also slightly towards their Master, who was supposed to stop this, but didn't. Even as their familiar home of the guild building became clear, none cheered up. Gray was still clutching Lucy's keys firmly in his hand. Then, before they knew it, they were at the entrance.

"We're back." Makarov called out lifelessly. All heads turned to them, slightly shocked by their grim faces.

"Took you long enough." A voice called out, and their eyes widened. Sitting at her usual barstool was Lucy. She sat next to a man with a cloak on, hair black as night. Zeref.

"L-Lucy..." Erza said, her voice breaking. People were surprised by this, as the cool Erza wasn't there. "Y-You're..."

"Yes I'm here, but for only one thing." Her voice was cold and rich in hate, making all the guild flinch. She was just the usual Lucy a second ago, talking, laughing, but with a man. Mirajane didn't fail to comment, but she was ignored. Yet, here Lucy was, practically spitting at her closest friends.

"Lucy?" Levy asked her, stepping in her way. Unusually, when she returned, she didn't say anything to her, or anyone even, apart from one thing. "Will you always follow Master?", which people only replied with "Yes." before she ignored them, and just sat on her stool with an unknown man.

"Move." She said, voice cold as ice. Levy didn't comply. She didn't know what to do, no one did. They all looked at her with worried eyes. Lucy mentally gave her a time limit, which she breeched, so she pushed her aside. Hard. Mirajane gasped in horror as the guild saw Lucy shove Levy with so much power that she was flung across the guild, landing with a thud. Lucy remained unfazed, but inside she was surprised at how much power she had, and how much she just didn't care for her former nakama.

This wasn't the Lucy the guild knew. A violent, cold and strong woman who didn't even blink before throwing her best friend into danger. She had changed, in just the last day since they saw her, she had completely changed. They wanted her old, soft and gentle nature back.

No one else tried to intercept her. Wendy ran to check on Levy, who was unconscious and bleeding from various cuts which she be began to heal. Lucy stomped up to Makarov, who was looking incredibly guilty and sad. "Lucy..." He started, but she held up he hand and stopped him.

"I don't want to hear it. Just give me my keys back, Makarov." The bitterness and pain in her voice was evident, and the whole guild wondered just what had happened between them.

"Lucy." Gray said, holding her keys. She reached for them, but he stopped her. "Just answer me a question. Is that him?"

Lucy growled at him. "Yes, but that's none of your business. You all lost any right to tell me to do anything." She glared at him, and snatched her keys back. "We're done here." She announced, turning to the cloaked figure. He nodded and began to walk towards her.

"Lucy, what happened?" Mirajane asked quietly. Lucy just glared at her.

"Stop!" The shout came from the entrance, behind Team Natsu. Everyone turned to see the Rune Knights rushing in to surround Lucy and the hooded man. "By order of the Magic Council, Lucy Heartfilia you are under arrest for mass murder, use of Dark Arts and suspicion of being ally's with the black wizard Zeref!"

There was an audible gasp that occurred throughout the guild. Lucy being in league with Zeref? They all thought that was preposterous, but the looks on Team Natsu and their Master's faces begged to differ.

Lucy quickly flipped through her keys and found one. Aries. She had always said she wanted to change. Now was time to see if she would. Closing her eyes, she contacted Aries.

"M-Master?" She stuttered

"Ok, I don't have lots of time." Lucy quickly replied.

"Y-Y-Your m-magic, it's d-d-dark..." She stuttered.

"Yes, but I need your help. I'm trapped without any connection, and if I summon any Spirit with this magic, it'll not work if I don't have permission from them to use it. It will change you. Do you accept?"

There was a moments silence. Lucy inwardly sighed. She wasn't going to do it, she was-

"Yes, I will." Aries suddenly replied, the first time without stuttering. Lucy smiled.

She pulled the keys out and everyone gasped as she poured her magic into Aries' key. The gold began to crack, and flake, then it shattered, leaving an identical key, but made entirely of black. "Open the Gate of the Ram! Aries!" She called, and a black circle appeared.

What stepped out surprised everyone. Aries was known as the 'Pushover Zodiac', the one that anyone could overpower. But the woman that stepped out, wasn't a pushover. It was a woman with red demon horns, long, dark purple hair, and she wore a black woollen bikini. It showed her stomach, and barely covered her chest and other areas.

"Hello, boys."

The voice visibly shocked Lucy. It was a seductive voice, and it made everyone in the guild shiver. Every guy in the guild stared with their mouth open, drooling, while the girls were all just... Gobsmacked. The Rune Knights were the most affected, because they dropped their weapons, and just stared at her with lustful eyes.

"Hmm..." She wondered, stepping forward with a loud clang. She was wearing black high heels, boots that ran up to her knees. She slowly stepped to the Rune Knights and looked to Lucy for a command. "What should I do, hime?"

Lucy didn't hesitate. "Kill them."

Aries smiled, and waved her hand at their clothing, which began to tighten and cause cuts, slowly getting tighter and tighter. The guild watched in horror as Lucy smiled. Finally, they choked their last breath, and fell to the floor, blood pooling around them. Aries turned and disappeared into a black circle.

Before anyone could absorb anything that had just happened, Lucy turned to her hooded friend. "Let's go, Zeref." She smiled, grabbing his hand. The both of them turned into a black mist, leaving the bewildered guild behind.

Thus, chapter 2 officially ends! Yeah, I had this almost wrote, but I accidentally deleted it... Meh. So, enjoyment? Yay or nay? R&R (still, no clue...).

Thanks to all those who reviewed the last chapter!

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~Nom Nom :3